Hausa Language in Agricultural Extension: Developing Communication Strategies for Smallholder Farmers in Katsina State

Effective agricultural extension communication in Katsina State depends on skilled use of Hausa language to convey technical farming knowledge in ways that are comprehensible, culturally resonant, and practically actionable for smallholder farmers with limited formal education. This study develops and evaluates Hausa language communication strategies for agricultural extension practice in Katsina State, drawing on analysis of current extension communication practices and farmer comprehension research. A professional application design was employed, combining observation of 20 agricultural extension sessions across three local government areas with structured comprehension assessments of 180 farmers following observed sessions. Focus group discussions with farmer groups examined language preferences, comprehension barriers, and effective communication strategies. Extension officers participated in a reflective practice workshop examining their own Hausa communication effectiveness. Findings reveal that most extension communication problems stem from overuse of technical vocabulary without Hausa equivalents, insufficient use of local agricultural terminology already familiar to farmers, and limited use of demonstration and visual support to complement verbal communication. Farmer comprehension scores improve significantly when extension officers use locally grounded agricultural Hausa vocabulary and farmer-familiar analogies. Recommendations include development of a Katsina State agricultural extension Hausa communication guide, integration of Hausa communication skills training into the Katsina Agricultural Development Project extension officer programme, and co-design of extension materials with farmer groups to embed locally accessible language. Keywords: Agricultural extension, Hausa communication, Katsina State, Smallholder farmers, Language strategies.